Labor Day in Heaven

Labor Day, with its U.S. origin in the 1882-1892 time frame, recognizes union members who fought for livable wages over a hundred years ago. It rejects the Malthusian theory and celebrates that humankind is not condemned to live at the subsistence level. Work enables us to receive income to live, to support our family and others. Work provides tangible benefits to society: food, shelter, enlightenment, entertainment, etc. Work enhances our self-image, built by accomplishment.

The Bible recognizes that we live in a physical world that was very good when God created it (Genesis 1:31), but that our priority should be Him and His kingdom. In Genesis 3:17-19, God put a curse on anything in this world that we work for in disobedience to Him.  Proverbs says in all labor there is profit (Proverbs 14:23), but Jesus said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33)  Paul wrote, “ ...if anyone is not willing to work, neither let him eat,” (2 Thessalonians 3:10) but also “... the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.” (Romans 8:6).

What will labor in heaven be like? What will we do? Will we participate in one continuous concert of worship, interrupted only by choir rehearsals? (Revelation 5:13) Will we tend the gardens of the new earth, as Adam was originally assigned in the garden of Eden (Genesis 2:15)? This is all idle speculation.

Jesus gave instructions which apply to all circumstances in John 6:27: “Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life.” In some inconceivable way, work that provides this food is faith in Christ. The context of this conversation is the miraculous feeding of a multitude, followed by Jesus walking on the water. Near the end of this passage, Jesus gave this explanation to His disciples: "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. “ (John 6:63)

The refrain from a poem by Charles Thomas Studd summarizes human understanding of what God thinks about labor.

Only one life, twill soon be past.

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

And when I am dying, how happy I’ll be,

If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee.